Related Content

Workplace Skills

BodyContent1

It takes a lot of work to build, maintain and deliver services to nearly 10,000 homes, and as a result Wales & West Housing employs around 350 people from all backgrounds and areas around Wales. As a housing provider we are committed to supporting our residents to get back into work, education and training, and part of that is helping to provide real opportunities for individuals to grow and develop skills and experience.

With an expanding group structure which includes Cambria Maintenance and Castell Ventures (including Castell Catering and Castell Care & Support), and working in partnership with numerous contractors, developers and suppliers, we are able to provide opportunities to gain unpaid work experience in many areas including:

Construction

Administration

Maintenance

Housing

Call Centre/Customer Service Centre

Catering

Care

And many more……

Whilst we cannot guarantee that the placements will lead to a paid job, if you can demonstrate the right skills and values to your placement manager then it is possible that opportunities to progress onto an apprenticeship (age dependent) or funded place may become available.

To register for work experience please email contactus@wwha.co.uk​ with your name and contact information.​​​​​​

Our online form is currently unavailable. Please call us if you would like to discuss workplace skills in more detail

​If you experience problems viewing or completing this form please click here.

BodyContent2

​Residents join the WWH team

WWH has recently created a two-week work experience programme especially for our residents who are unemployed or looking to gain new skills. In July 2015 we introduced our successful candidates, Kyle Hexter, Kosar Darwish, Sarah Denton and Leanne Davies to the WWH team at our Head Office in Cardiff.

They each spent time learning about WWH and different work place roles in a variety of departments - from Housing and Property Services to PR & Comms, HR, Admin, ICT and Finance.

Our work experience candidates also received a nationally recognised qualification in employability skills - namely the Agored Cymru Level 1 Maintaining Work Standards - as well as advice about further employment opportunities and training and a certificate of achievement.

Throughout the whole of the two weeks, our fab four all did exceptionally well. Talking about the work experience programme, Cate Dooher, Head of Corporate Services at WWH, said: "This is the first time that we have offered work experience opportunities to our residents. It was a real pleasure to host the programme and staff from right across WWH got involved, enabling us to offer Kyle, Kosar, Sarah and Leanne a whole range of opportunities.

"I know as an organisation we have really benefitted from the programme and staff have really enjoyed having our residents with us and welcoming them to the team. The participants made a fantastic contribution and have helped us to shape the programme moving forward."

Here's how Kyle, Kosar, Sarah and Leanne got on during their time with us, and what they thought of life at WWH.

Kyle Hexter, 17, Cardiff

"I found out about the work experience programme from a family member who had received In Touch. Having just finished an ICT course at college I thought it would be a great idea in order to gain experience and get the Level 1 Maintaining Work Standards qualification, which will help me to get a job.

"It was great to have an input into WWH's work and I got stuck in and treated it as my actual job. I've worked all over the offices and have also been out meeting other residents. As a resident myself, it's brilliant to get that inside view - understanding the processes and how or why things are done. And finding out about the WWH values too, that was really good, it struck me how the values are very important to everyone here.

"Before I came on the work experience programme at WWH I was fixed on ICT as a career, but the experience has really opened up my mind to other job roles I could look at in the future.

"My confidence has grown massively, especially with talking to strangers and working in an office environment. You can really be yourself here and the people are great. It's an experience I'll never forget."

Kosar Darwish, 39, Cardiff

"I come from Northern Iraq and have lived here for just over 12 years. Before coming to the UK I did a degree in statistics and I used to teach maths. I'm now a self-employed interpreter and work in a restaurant too.

"I've enjoyed working in all the departments whilst I've been at WWH and I've tried lots of different things. I especially enjoyed working with the Housing Options Team and HR. It's a new experience, new environment and I have picked up lots of new skills.

"Everyone here has been lovely and it's an excellent organisation to work for. The placement has been very useful and beneficial for me. I would encourage other residents most definitely to apply - everyone here is very helpful and it'll be a great experience for you too, I'm sure."

Leanne Davies, 36, Merthyr Tydfil

"I'm currently training to be an administrative assistant and I also volunteer. I wanted to further my career and experience, so when I found out about the WWH work experience programme I decided to give it a go.

"I've loved working with spreadsheets and other administrative tasks such as writing letters and making telephone enquiries. Working in housing was great too. I've enjoyed everything, to be honest!

"It's given me loads of confidence coming here, especially about getting back into the workplace. I'd definitely encourage other residents to apply for future opportunities - it'll give you the confidence needed and will stop you from being nervous about going back to work."

Sarah Denton, 47, Cardiff

"I found out about the work experience placement from a member of the WWH team. I've really enjoyed my time here - particularly the hands-on parts, meeting the lovely people and learning about the values of the organisation.

"The experience has allowed me to learn many new skills and improve my existing skill set. It's benefitted me personally - it's given me a sense of purpose."

Opportunities through our Partners

We are pleased to offer the following opportunities with the following partner organisations:

Jobs Growth Wales The Jobs Growth Wales programme caters for young people that are job ready but have had difficulty securing employment. Participants will be paid at or above the national minimum wage for a minimum of 25 hours per week. Young people will be employed for the duration of the programme and the jobs created must be additional to, and not replace, positions that would otherwise be filled. All opportunities are advertised through the Careers Wales website.